College of Matrons

Bishop Ward gave properties, including Whaddon Farm in the parishes of Alderbury and West Grimstead, to generate rent to fund the almshouse and to provide the widows with a small income. In the early years the widows received a weekly pension of six shillings. To be eligible to live in the college, widows had to be at least 50 years of age and have an annual income of less than £10 a year. Should there be insufficient candidates within the Salisbury diocese, applicants from the Diocese of Exeter would be considered. Among the early rules of governance, tenants were required to attend two divine services each day in the cathedral and could not be absent from the cathedral close for more than…

There is some uncertainty as to whether Christopher Wren designed the building. It is brick-built with stone window surrounds, stone quoins and red tiles. It has a central front with extended wings. A leaded-glass, lead domed roof lantern surmounted by a golden ball is positioned on the rear of the roof at the centre of the frontage. There are six diagonally-set stone chimney stacks. Above the porched main entrance, set in a roof-level gable end, is a brightly painted Royal Coat of Arms from the Stuart period, with drapes of fruit on each side. There is a garden area to the rear and some other smaller associated redbrick buildings. The building is fronted by a long narrow garden contained…